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THE WAY IT WAS

Marcus Frank overcomes murder charge to become major Ocala businessman

By David CookColumnist

Published: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 12:08 p.m.

A great deal of curious speculation began to circulate through Ocala in March 1900 when huge crates of merchandise, addressed to an unknown business called “the Boston Store,” began to arrive at the Florida Peninsular Railroad freight depot off North Magnolia.

Marcus Frank was still in his teens when he came to Ocala from South Florida to work in the Boston Store. By his 20s, he was a successful downtown Ocala businessman. (File)

The answer became clear when a businessman identified as M. Handelman arrived from Jacksonville and registered at the Montezuma Hotel (later the Harrington Hall located on what is today part of the Bank of America block) on South Main Street.

Handelman, newly married to a widow from Miami, said the Boston Store would be a new business on the courthouse square selling a wide variety of merchandise at low prices.

It would be operated by his wife, assisted by her teenage son, Marcus Frank.

Old-time Ocalans will remember Marcus Frank as a prominent businessman who became an outspoken civic leader who served numerous terms on the city council and also at one time represented Marion County in the state Legislature. He was at the beginning of his business career when his mother opened the Boston Store.

In 1900, Ocalans knew nothing of Frank, except possibly that his father, Julius Frank, had been a successful dry goods merchant in Miami and West Palm Beach before his death in a fire several years earlier. Both his late father and his mother were Jewish immigrants from Russia.

Earlier life

After the death of Marcus Frank in 1966, at age 82, some details of his earlier life in Miami came to light. His mother was operating her late husband's store in West Palm Beach when a newspaper editor in Miami accused her of illegally shipping goods from Miami during a yellow fever quarantine.

The editor, C.M. Gardner, made the mistake of visiting the Frank store in West Palm apparently to harass Mrs. Frank in person, and there he was confronted by young Marcus. Words were exchanged, Gardner raised his heavy cane to hit Marcus, and Marcus pulled out a pistol and shot him in the chest.

The teenaged Frank was charged with murder and tried in Miami. The jury found the shooting justified because of Gardner's verbal and written harassment and because he had used his cane. Marcus received a directed verdict of acquittal. After the trial, the family started over in Ocala, where the shooting was unknown.

Unusual tactic

The Boston Store was advertised in large ads in the newspapers, the Star and the Banner. It was an unusual tactic in a time when most advertisements ran only a few lines. It was a concept much applauded by the newspaper editors.

Not only “a first-class dry goods store,” the Boston featured merchandise ranging from staples and auger bits to lamps and crockery to water coolers and fish hooks. Women's trimmed hats sold for as low as $1.49.

The advertisements claimed the Handelmans had scoured the markets of the north to find goods that could be sold at modest prices. From the beginning, the store was a success with the public. Marcus Frank's contribution to that initial success, of course, isn't known, but he must have learned the business rapidly because he soon was in charge .

A joint effort

At some point, Frank entered into business with another enterprising businessman, T.H. Harris, and they called the joint effort The Variety Store. By 1908, Frank was the sole proprietor after purchasing Harris' interest in this and other businesses in which they were apparent partners.

C.L. Bittinger, editor of the newly renamed Ocala Evening Star, called Frank a phenomenal success as a result of his “enterprise and up-to-date business ideas.” The editor said Frank had demonstrated “that judicious, truthful advertising pays.”

The Boston Store began operations on South Magnolia, but Frank moved the business to several different locations around the downtown square, ending up with the store simply called “Franks” on Magnolia by the time he retired from active business.

People's champ

When he won election to the Ocala City Council, Marcus Frank quickly became the champion for protecting the taxpayers' pocketbook. He was about as tight-fisted as any politician who ever held office in Ocala, well-liked by a public that re-elected him to office over and over again.

In 1939, he represented Marion County in the Florida House of Representatives and, a decade later, was back in the Legislature, always an advocate for tight spending controls. As a city councilman again in his later years, he gained a reputation as an “aginer” who seemed to oppose every progressive idea that came down the pike.

Overlooked was his advocacy throughout his entire political career for ideas that would save money for the taxpayers. For instance, he was an earlier supporter for building a city-owned electric power plant that would have saved power users millions of dollars over the years.

Building business

At the end of World War II, in the mid-1940s, Frank got into the business of building low-cost homes for returning veterans. As with so many of his business enterprises, it was a successful move that benefited the community as well as his pocketbook.

When tight lending practices by local banks kept many young families from buying homes, Marcus stepped forward with personal loans that enabled them to acquire homes. He was roundly condemned for charging 10 percent interest on loans, but he took risks that banks wouldn’t touch.

In his last years — in retirement, but still an outspoken councilman — he was known as the little old man with a walking cane who brought sandwiches to office workers throughout the downtown area. His benevolences to the needy also continued until his death, in 1966 at age 82.

An avid Marion County historian, David Cook is a retired editor of the Star-Banner. He may be contacted at 237-2535.

<p>A great deal of curious speculation began to circulate through Ocala in March 1900 when huge crates of merchandise, addressed to an unknown business called “the Boston Store,” began to arrive at the Florida Peninsular Railroad freight depot off North Magnolia. </p><p>The answer became clear when a businessman identified as M. Handelman arrived from Jacksonville and registered at the Montezuma Hotel (later the Harrington Hall located on what is today part of the Bank of America block) on South Main Street. </p><p>Handelman, newly married to a widow from Miami, said the Boston Store would be a new business on the courthouse square selling a wide variety of merchandise at low prices.</p><p>It would be operated by his wife, assisted by her teenage son, Marcus Frank.</p><p>Old-time Ocalans will remember Marcus Frank as a prominent businessman who became an outspoken civic leader who served numerous terms on the city council and also at one time represented Marion County in the state Legislature. He was at the beginning of his business career when his mother opened the Boston Store.</p><p>In 1900, Ocalans knew nothing of Frank, except possibly that his father, Julius Frank, had been a successful dry goods merchant in Miami and West Palm Beach before his death in a fire several years earlier. Both his late father and his mother were Jewish immigrants from Russia.</p><h3>Earlier life</h3>
<p>After the death of Marcus Frank in 1966, at age 82, some details of his earlier life in Miami came to light. His mother was operating her late husband's store in West Palm Beach when a newspaper editor in Miami accused her of illegally shipping goods from Miami during a yellow fever quarantine.</p><p>The editor, C.M. Gardner, made the mistake of visiting the Frank store in West Palm apparently to harass Mrs. Frank in person, and there he was confronted by young Marcus. Words were exchanged, Gardner raised his heavy cane to hit Marcus, and Marcus pulled out a pistol and shot him in the chest.</p><p>The teenaged Frank was charged with murder and tried in Miami. The jury found the shooting justified because of Gardner's verbal and written harassment and because he had used his cane. Marcus received a directed verdict of acquittal. After the trial, the family started over in Ocala, where the shooting was unknown.</p><h3>Unusual tactic</h3>
<p>The Boston Store was advertised in large ads in the newspapers, the Star and the Banner. It was an unusual tactic in a time when most advertisements ran only a few lines. It was a concept much applauded by the newspaper editors.</p><p>Not only “a first-class dry goods store,” the Boston featured merchandise ranging from staples and auger bits to lamps and crockery to water coolers and fish hooks. Women's trimmed hats sold for as low as $1.49.</p><p>The advertisements claimed the Handelmans had scoured the markets of the north to find goods that could be sold at modest prices. From the beginning, the store was a success with the public. Marcus Frank's contribution to that initial success, of course, isn't known, but he must have learned the business rapidly because he soon was in charge .</p><h3>A joint effort</h3>
<p>At some point, Frank entered into business with another enterprising businessman, T.H. Harris, and they called the joint effort The Variety Store. By 1908, Frank was the sole proprietor after purchasing Harris' interest in this and other businesses in which they were apparent partners. </p><p>C.L. Bittinger, editor of the newly renamed Ocala Evening Star, called Frank a phenomenal success as a result of his “enterprise and up-to-date business ideas.” The editor said Frank had demonstrated “that judicious, truthful advertising pays.”</p><p>The Boston Store began operations on South Magnolia, but Frank moved the business to several different locations around the downtown square, ending up with the store simply called “Franks” on Magnolia by the time he retired from active business.</p><h3>People's champ</h3>
<p>When he won election to the Ocala City Council, Marcus Frank quickly became the champion for protecting the taxpayers' pocketbook. He was about as tight-fisted as any politician who ever held office in Ocala, well-liked by a public that re-elected him to office over and over again.</p><p>In 1939, he represented Marion County in the Florida House of Representatives and, a decade later, was back in the Legislature, always an advocate for tight spending controls. As a city councilman again in his later years, he gained a reputation as an “aginer” who seemed to oppose every progressive idea that came down the pike.</p><p>Overlooked was his advocacy throughout his entire political career for ideas that would save money for the taxpayers. For instance, he was an earlier supporter for building a city-owned electric power plant that would have saved power users millions of dollars over the years.</p><h3>Building business</h3>
<p>At the end of World War II, in the mid-1940s, Frank got into the business of building low-cost homes for returning veterans. As with so many of his business enterprises, it was a successful move that benefited the community as well as his pocketbook.</p><p>When tight lending practices by local banks kept many young families from buying homes, Marcus stepped forward with personal loans that enabled them to acquire homes. He was roundly condemned for charging 10 percent interest on loans, but he took risks that banks wouldn't touch.</p><p>In his last years — in retirement, but still an outspoken councilman — he was known as the little old man with a walking cane who brought sandwiches to office workers throughout the downtown area. His benevolences to the needy also continued until his death, in 1966 at age 82.</p><p><i>An avid Marion County historian, David Cook is a retired editor of the Star-Banner. He may be contacted at 237-2535. </i></p>